Y Pant Comprehensive School
A group of students from Y Pant Comprehensive School in Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taff, worked with artist, Cindy Ward, to create an exciting new school entrance gate. The objective of the project was to design a gate that visually symbolised the school and the local community’s social history.
Students investigated their local cultural heritage to see why the school was built. They looked at eighteenth century and nineteenth century maps of the local area to see how the population had grown and how land use had changed significantly over time. The gate design incorporates various features from the research undertaken – land use for local industry such as coal, tin and iron ore, the railway line used by industry, the shaping of the land from agricultural use and the River Clun. Students used plant roots to portray Y Pant School and interlink the various elements which historically affected its location.
Students have learnt a variety of metal working techniques and have also worked well as a team to negotiate and develop the exciting final design.